The Lemon Index

All cars · Honda Civic · 2020

2020 Honda Civic. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index40100 = average car
Complaints101NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold261,225U.S. model year
Per 100K sold39complaints
Year rank#10 of 23#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 7

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
1.5L 4-cyl turboAuto (variable gear ratios)FWD31 / 40 / 34Regular$1,850
1.5L 4-cyl turboManual 6-spdFWD29 / 37 / 32Premium$2,400
1.5L 4-cyl turboAuto (AV-S7)FWD29 / 35 / 32Premium$2,400
2.0L 4-cylAuto (variable gear ratios)FWD30 / 38 / 33Regular$1,900
2.0L 4-cylAuto (AV-S7)FWD29 / 36 / 32Regular$1,950
2.0L 4-cylManual 6-spdFWD25 / 35 / 29Regular$2,150
2.0L 4-cyl turboManual 6-spdFWD22 / 28 / 25Premium$3,100

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 4,300 and 49,700 miles. Median 15,800, from 54 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Electrical9,0001,300–49,00011
Transmission & drivetrain8,4004,700–21,1009
Steering30,4008,400–78,0006
Visibility50,30016,500–85,0006

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Transmission & drivetrain21%
Electrical18%
Automatic emergency braking15%
Steering11%
Airbags9%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
23415110017

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 5

  • 26V332000 May 2026 Air Bags / Sensor / Occupant Classification / Front Passenger

    Defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

    Risk. Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy. Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involve

  • 24V064000 Feb 2024 Air Bags / Sensor / Occupant Classification / Front Passenger

    Defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.

    Risk. An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy. Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.

  • 23V858000 Dec 2023 Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Fuel Pump

    Defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

  • 23V458000 Jun 2023 Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Master Cylinder

    Defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.

    Risk. Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are VEU, AEV, and ZET.

  • 21V215000 Mar 2021 Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Fuel Pump

    Defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-314.

Manufacturer communications 165

Honda filed 165 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Honda CIVIC 2 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★
Honda CIVIC 4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Honda CIVIC HATCH 5 HB FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardStandardStandard

YouTube repair topics

97 videos about the 2016–2021 Honda Civic, 36.0M views.

TopicVideosViews
Heat, A/C & blend door4992K
Transmission & shifter3840K
Infotainment, battery & electrical3709K
Brakes & ABS2437K
Oil changes & service2377K
No-start: theft light, key & ignition1331K
Steering & suspension2251K
Timing chain & engine1191K

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
201751204377,266Electrical
201846159325,760Engine
201935115325,650Automatic emergency braking
202040101261,225Transmission & drivetrain
20213281263,787Automatic emergency braking
2022437926133,932Steering
2023140332200,381Steering

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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